'Anti pest tunnel'

[Argonaut]

I had my first growing season last year - great success other than losing all cauliflowers & much of broccoli to Cabbage White caterpillars.
So this year intend putting up a protection tunnel - and hope this sub-forum is right place to ask a Q.

I have 3 large raised beds as gardens .. and have thought about following this example:
Brassica Netting – against Cabbage White Butterfly « K’s Garden

First question is how high should I make the tunnel ? .. thinking that for broccoli I need to allow at least 900mm high
Should I think about a lower height one for cabbage & cauliflower .. perhaps 600mm high.

The beds are 1.5m wide so will have good width under tunnel.


In the url above the diy'er there used bamboo stakes ... anybody got any alternative ideas for stakes?


Finally had been intending to do this with enviromesh (so water penetration ) ... would it be worth laying a fleece blanket over plantings (under the tunnel) until we hit end of May, and then remove fleece?

Ideas welcome.

[Two_Sheds]

how high should I make the tunnel ? ..

A bit higher than the height of a fully grown plant - pigeons will sit on top of the netting and peck through, so suspend it a good 6 inches above them if you can. My sprout tent was 4' high

would it be worth laying a fleece blanket over plantings (under the tunnel) until we hit end of May

What plants? No need for hardy plants, it's only tender ones that need frost protection

[Alison]

A bit higher than the height of a fully grown plant - pigeons will sit on top of the netting and peck through, so suspend it a good 6 inches above them if you can. My sprout tent was 4' high

For some reasons 2 of my sprout plants became very tall - not leggy, just tall (loads of sprouts though ) and I had to extend the enclosure!

Enviromesh does provide some insulation as well as insect / bird protection and for brassicas you should be fine with no fleece so long as you harden off any sowings done inside etc.

[Argonaut]

so do the suggested 'sizes' of 900 & 600 seem OK .... looked in local garden centre today the 'Large' version was only 450mm high.